Defence counsel Patrick Lyttle QC described the case as "hugely tragic" for all concerned.

"Mrs Saunders, is a grandmother of 73 who has lived an unblemished life, has been driving for 40 years and has never been before the courts.

"All she lived for was her family: her husband, her three daughters and her son Alan. She worked all her life to support her family.

Jackson Turner died after being involved in a head-on car crash on Boxing Day

"Mrs Saunders tells me that she left on a Thursday at the age of 14 and started work the following Monday. She later went on to work in the health service, spending over 30 serving as a community care worker before her retirement six years ago.

"She wishes she had died and Jackson had lived and is fully aware of the impact this tragic death has had on the rest of the family, her daughter in law, the mother of Jackson, and her son"

The retired health service worker was driving her Nissan Micra when she clipped a Citroen Picasso coming the other way before colliding almost head on with another car.

It is unclear what speed the car was moving at, but the court heard her car had crossed 80cm into the other lane.

Jackson, who was strapped into a booster seat behind his grandmother suffered horrific injuries and died.

His sister remained uninjured while Mrs Saunders suffered a broken pelvis and a brain bleed.

The court heard victim impact statements from Jackson's parents and the driver of the car which crashed with Mrs Saunders.

MOST READ IN NEWS

HAPPY BEASTER

UK set for 'White Easter' as 'Beast from East 3' could see snow until April